Demonic Obedience – Fatalistic Uprisal of Abhorrent Creation (Review)

This is the third album from Greek/UK blackened death metal band Demonic Obedience.

On Fatalistic Uprisal of Abhorrent Creation Demonic Obedience offer up 33 minutes of malignant blackened death metal. Merging brutality with no small amount of mood and atmosphere, this is a very gratifying album.

The main style is one of old-school death metal with a firm black metal influence. Brutal and direct, this is blackened death metal that takes no prisoners, except for the ones that it wants to torture endlessly.

Largely fast and brutal, there are slower and mid-paced parts included for variety and pacing. Fatalistic Uprisal of Abhorrent Creation has more going in its favour than mere brutality, however. Melody is used well, but not overly so. When it appears it contributes to the atmospheric side of the band; I particularly like these parts, as they help show that Demonic Obedience know how to structure a good song. For such an intense and punishing collection of tracks, there’s a surprising amount of macabre depth and sinister substance here. The band should be commended for their songcraft.

The vocals are mainly guttural growls, delivered with soulskinning intensity and so much depth they threaten to swallow you whole. Some variety is seen, however, and overall the singer’s performance is daemonic and terrifying.

The album’s production is thick, black, and very satisfying. It allows the music to sound as crushingly malevolent as it should do. Top marks for this.

Demonic Obedience have created the sound of a furious abyss on this album. Think of a blackened mix of bands such as Immolation, Incantation, Morbid Angel, and Arkhon Infaustus, and you’ll have a decent idea of what Fatalistic Uprisal of Abhorrent Creation sounds like. It’s in good company, and is an accomplished piece of work.

A quality slab of extreme metal, I very much enjoyed this. Make sure you give it a listen.